LONGVIEW, WA - Clark College showed both resilience and the challenge of facing one of the region's top teams Thursday, dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Lower Columbia College in Longview.

The opener turned into a tightly contested battle that nearly became a signature comeback for the Penguins. After being held to just one hit through six innings, Clark found life late. Trailing 2–0, Caden Taylor drove in a run in the eighth inning to cut the deficit in half. In the ninth, Kaeden Cruse delivered the biggest swing of the game for Clark, blasting a solo home run to tie it at 2–2.

Clark starter Rylan Taguchi kept his team within striking distance all afternoon, working 8.1 innings against a strong Lower Columbia lineup and limiting the damage despite eight hits allowed. His effort gave Clark a chance to rally despite a quiet offensive day that included 14 strikeouts.

But the momentum from Cruse's home run didn't last. Lower Columbia responded in the bottom of the ninth, putting together a final push that ended with a walk-off RBI single from Martyn Hernandez to secure a 3–2 win.

The second game shifted quickly in Lower Columbia's favor as its offense erupted early and never slowed. The Red Devils scored in the first inning, then broke things open with four runs in the second and another in the third. A five-run fifth inning put the game out of reach and highlighted the offensive depth that has fueled their strong season.

Sam Davidson led the charge with multiple RBIs, while Hernandez added three hits and helped set the tone at the top of the lineup. Lower Columbia finished with 14 hits and aggressive baserunning, consistently applying pressure throughout the game.

Clark collected six hits in the nightcap, with Caden Taylor and Rylan Taguchi each recording two. Kobin Mullins drove in the Penguins' lone run in the sixth inning.

On the mound, Quinn Hubbs controlled the game for Lower Columbia, allowing just two hits over five shutout innings to earn the win.

Clark (13–17) showed it can compete with a top-tier opponent, particularly with the late push in the opener and a strong outing from its starting pitcher. However, the contrast between the two games underscored the need for more consistent offense and run prevention moving forward, while Lower Columbia (34–7) demonstrated both its ability to close out tight games and overwhelm opponents with sustained offensive pressure.

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